When the Jefferson Parish Council meets this morning, it will tackle a number of issues including a critical audit of the Jefferson Housing Authority that called for administrative action against its executive director, including "debarment'' from federal housing programs. The audit, conducted by the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, found its board members were paid $100,000 in violation of federal law to attend meetings, as well as $200,000 in questionable costs and another $450,000 in payments in which lacked proper documentation.

At a special Tuesday meeting of the authority's board of commissioners, some members defended executive director Barry Bordelon, while others said they had no knowledge the authority was being audited until media reports on the issue surfaced last week.

Board Chairman Patrick Pierson said the inspector general's report does not allege criminal acts. "I think this is much to do about nothing,'' he said.

But members Michael Mentz strongly disagreed. Mentz questioned why Bordelon did not inform members of the audit that began in February despite a series of board meetings where he had the opportunity to do so. Mentz also took issue with Bordelon's decision to hire a law firm to draft the authority's response to the findings, without the board's knowledge and approval, although the response indicates it has the backing of the board.

"I can't understand why we were kept in the dark until the report was released in the press,'' Mentz said. "... How can we make informed decisions if we are kept in the dark?''

Bordelon, who is not the same Barry Bordelon as a Jefferson Parish School Board member, said the audit was routine and "wasn't withheld from the board.'' He said federal officials told him the process was confidential "and that they didn't want any information released until the draft was released.''

Member Jonathan Liberto was incredulous. "You weren't allowed to tell us when you got the draft report?''

HUD officials have 120 days to decide whether to accept the findings, which Pierson said he expects to be dismissed.

The authority manages a public housing complex in Marrero, 100 apartments and more than 4,600 Section 8 vouchers.

The Parish Council is also scheduled to conduct what has been called an information session for the public on the issue of Crescent City Connection tolls. State transportation officials are expected to make a presentation on what level of services bridge users can expect if the tolls are not renewed this fall.

The presentation on the toll issue begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Parish Council Chambers in the Jefferson Parish General Government Building in Gretna.